Colorado Basketball – February, 2019

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Colorado Basketball – February, 2019

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February 28th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle: “We’re not going to be able to back our way into postseason. Every game is important”

From CUBuffs.com … With a 16-11 overall record (7-8 Pac-12) and three regular season games remaining — plus at least one conference tournament game — the Colorado Buffaloes are on the edge.

If they can win their last three, then pick up at least a win or two in the Pac-12 tournament, they will be a solid candidate for an NIT bid. There is also the possibility that they could hit the jackpot in Las Vegas and run the table in the conference tournament, which would guarantee them an NCAA Tournament bid.

But every loss from here on out will put a serious dent in their postseason hopes, something head coach Tad Boyle has been trying to impress upon the Buffs this week.

“We’ve put ourselves where every game, every time we step on the floor, the game means something,” Boyle said after Wednesday’s practice. “I told our team today, there’s two kinds of teams this time of year. There’s teams that are preparing for postseason, there’s teams that are preparing for spring break. … I asked them which group we’re in. They answered the right one. But it’s one thing to say that. You have to come out and play that way.”

Next up on the Buffs’ agenda — and the only game, Boyle said, that matters today — is a 4 p.m. game Saturday with Utah, the first of CU’s three-game homestand to end the regular season. The Utes (15-12, 9-6) are in a position very similar to the Buffs. They need to pick up three wins down the stretch, plus some tournament wins, to earn an NIT bid, or make a Pac-12 run to get the call from the NCAA.

In fact, there are a host of Pac-12 teams in the same position. While Washington (22-5, 13-1) appears to be in solid bet to earn an NCAA bid and Arizona State (19-8, 10-5) is on the cusp, there are eight Pac-12 teams who could put themselves in line for an NIT bid with a strong finish — and who also have a puncher’s chance of running the conference tournament table for an NCAA berth.

“We’re going to have to play our way into postseason,” Boyle said. “We’re not going to be able to back our way into postseason. Every game is important.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 27th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle on freshman Eli Parquet: “He just needs to focus on doing the things that he does well”

From the Daily Camera … Colorado basketball coach Tad Boyle remembers what it’s like to be a young player in Eli Parquet’s shoes.

Just months earlier, that sort of player is lighting up their high school gym, often leading their team in myriad roles while also often being the focal point of win after win.

That player gets to college and not only are wins much more difficult to come by, but so are minutes. That changed somewhat for Parquet during a largely forgettable trip for the Buffaloes through Washington this past weekend, with the freshman guard showcasing some of his promising defensive skills while logging more meaningful minutes than he had over the previous month.

“He just needs to focus on doing the things that he does well,” Boyle said. “Eli is going to be a good player. Sometimes it’s hard when you’re in Eli’s shoes. I’ve been in Eli’s shoes as a player, where your leash is maybe not as long as McKinley (Wright’s) is, or even Shane (Gatling’s) is. He doesn’t get the minutes to maybe get in a flow of the game. Sometimes it’s two or three minutes here, two or three minutes there. That’s sometimes hard on a young player because they’re used to playing so much more.

“But I think he’s handled well. He’s adjusted well. This is something he can build on, because he can help us defensively.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Andre Roberson: “They know what it takes now, obviously, to string wins together. They know what it takes to win”

... Related … “Former CU Buffs star Andre Roberson weighs in on emergence of Tyler Bey” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com …  A former Colorado basketball star who knows a thing or two about the subject said Tuesday he believes the Buffaloes can “make some noise” down the stretch this season.

Andre Roberson is certainly familiar with what it takes.

Roberson, a key part of the 2011-12 Buffs who won four games in a row to win the first Pac-12 tournament, was in Boulder on Tuesday to catch the Buffs’ practice. Roberson and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates were in Denver to take on the Nuggets in an evening game at the Pepsi Center, so Roberson took the opportunity to visit his old stomping grounds.

“I see the potential,” said Roberson, who has been sidelined all season with a knee injury. “They know what it takes now, obviously, to string wins together. They know what it takes to win and I think they can make some noise.”

Roberson and former CU teammate Nate Tomlinson — also a key cog in that memorable 2012 conference tournament run and now part of CU’s staff — spent some time together during Tuesday’s practice. After two days in a row off, Colorado got back to the business of preparing for Saturday’s key Pac-12 home game with Utah (4 p.m.).

Roberson played three years in Boulder. A freshman on Tad Boyle‘s first CU team — which advanced to the NIT Final Four after an NCAA Tournament snub — he moved into a starting role as a sophomore to help the Buffs to the Pac-12 tourney title and a first-round win over UNLV in the NCAA Tournament. Roberson finished the season averaging 11.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, the third-best rebounding average in the nation.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 26th

… CU in the Arena … 

With three games to go, Buffs can finish anywhere from 3rd to 10th in Pac-12 race

From CUBuffs.com … A fourth-place Pac-12 finish for the Colorado men’s basketball team is still not an impossibility — but last week’s back-to-back losses in Washington no doubt lengthened the Buffs’ odds considerably.

Currently in a three-way tie for seventh place in the conference standings, the Buffs (16-11 overall, 7-8 Pac-12) need to win their last three games to have any shot at a fourth-place finish and first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament.

The good news is all three of their remaining games are at home against teams currently ahead of them in the conference standings. The homestand begins Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup against Utah, followed by a March 7 game against UCLA (7 p.m.) and the March 9 regular season finale against USC (3 p.m.).

Some notes on the possible scenarios involving Colorado over the the final two weeks of the regular season:

— Washington (13-1 Pac-12) has already clinched a tie for the conference title, and needs to win just one of its final four games to become the regular season champion.

— The Buffs can’t catch Arizona State (10-5) even if the Sun Devils lose their last three and Colorado wins out and both finish 10-8. The two split their regular-season series and ASU would hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a season split with Washington while Colorado lost two to the Huskies.

—  The Buffs could catch Oregon State, currently third in the standings at 9-5, if the Buffs win out and OSU loses its last four. But if Oregon State gets to 10 wins, Colorado  would lose a tiebreaker with the Beavers by virtue of OSU’s win over the Buffs in their only meeting this year.

— Colorado can catch Utah (9-6) with a little help from the Los Angeles schools. If the Buffs win out and Utah loses its last three — at Colorado and at home against USC and UCLA — the Buffs would move past the Utes. If Colorado wins out and the Utes win one of their last three, it would likely come down to a convoluted tiebreaker that wouldn’t be decided until the last weekend. If the Utes win at least two of their last three, the Buffs can’t catch them.

— While USC (8-7) and UCLA (8-7) are a game ahead of CU in the standings, the Buffs can catch both of them by winning their last three. That would guarantee Colorado finishing ahead of the Los Angeles schools in a tiebreaking scenario, as the most wins either Los Angeles school could finish with would be 10, and the Buffs would own the tiebreaker with both by virtue of their season sweeps of the LA schools.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 25th 

… CU in the Arena … 

Arizona’s Sean Miller to be subpoenaed to testify in basketball corruption case

From Yahoo.Sports … Arizona coach Sean Miller on a witness stand? LSU coach Will Wade testifying in federal court, under oath?

Defense attorneys interested in revealing the scope and depth of college basketball’s corruption – not playing nice and polite – in charge of the line of questioning?

College basketball’s federal fraud case has hung over the sport for going on two seasons now, a cloud that won’t go away.

In April, it might start producing its biggest deluge of rain, bad news and, most consequentially, the truth about a sport that’s relied on blind fan passion, apologetic media and administrators more interested in pleasing donors than following rules, at least when it comes to the behavior of millionaire coaches.

The players, of course, tend not to get much benefit of the doubt.

Multiple sources told Yahoo Sports that preliminary notifications have been sent to representatives of Miller and Wade stating that each will be subpoenaed to testify in the scandal’s second trial, which is scheduled for April 22 in New York. A preliminary notification is a courtesy that seeks guidance on the easiest way to serve papers to the named individual.

In terms of news value, it’s a game-changer for the case, which thus far has yielded plenty of juicy details and caused the firing of Rick Pitino – plus four assistants charged by prosecutors – but has still left much to be explored.

Nearly 18 months after the Southern District of New York boldly claimed to have the sport’s “playbook” and promised mayhem following a three-year FBI investigation, the results have been mixed. There have been convictions and plea deals reached, but the most prominent names (other than Pitino) and programs have continued, business as usual.

This might change that, particularly if wiretapped conversations featuring Miller, Wade and others are played in open court and then the details and circumstances are explored via direct questioning.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 24th

… CU in the Arena … 

McKinley Wright’s playing through pain can be a source of pride for Buff fans

From Pat Rooney at the Daily Camera … It is becoming a painful matter of routine.

McKinley Wright staggers off the court for the Colorado men’s basketball team, grimacing while favoring his left arm. He disappears into the tunnel for a few minutes, returns to the bench and inevitably returns to the action for the Buffaloes without displaying any physical limitations.

I admit the sophomore point guard fooled me somewhat during Wednesday night’s loss at Washington State. When Wright momentarily left the fray against the Cougars, bent over and holding his left wrist, it seemed as if Wright had incurred an entirely new injury.

Wright set the record straight afterward.

“It was my shoulder, man,” Wright said. “It was my shoulder.”

Regardless of how the Buffs’ season plays out the rest of the way — they remain in the race for one of the top four spots in the Pac-12 and the accompanying first-round bye at the league tournament, despite Wednesday’s loss and a date late Saturday night at first-place Washington — a tip of the cap must be offered toward Wright, whose selflessness and determination to play through a painful injury should be a source of pride to all Buffs fans.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 23rd

… CU in the Arena … 

Washington earns at least a share of the Pac-12 title with 64-55 win over Colorado

… Related … “Washington rolls past CU basketball behind league-leading defense” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado couldn’t solve Washington’s zone defense Saturday night, dropping a 64-55 decision to the Huskies in front of a sellout crowd of 10,000 at Alaska Airlines Arena.

The Buffs fell to 16-11 overall and 7-8 in Pac-12 play with their second straight loss while the Huskies improved to 22-5, 13-1. The Buffs now have their final three regular season games at home, beginning with next Saturday’s 4 p.m. game against Utah.

Colorado’s Tyler Bey finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds on 9-for-17 shooting to record his 13th career double-double and 11th of the season. D’Shawn Schwartz finished with 10 points and five rebounds, but was the only other Buff in double figures.

Washington’s Matisse Thybulle finished with 17 points, six steals, five blocked shots and three rebounds.

Colorado did not shoot well from the floor — 22-for-53 — but the Buffs’ biggest downfall was turnovers. CU committed 19 miscues, which the Huskies converted into 18 points. And, while the Buffs did win the overall rebound battle, 39-28, Washington collected 13 offensive rebounds and turned them into 12 points.

Washington led by eight at the half and built its second-half lead to as much as 18 before the Buffs cut the deficit in half with a 9-0 run with seven minutes still to play. But the Huskies then built the lead back to 13 and managed to hold the Buffs off down the stretch.

“They got up 18 and then we started deciding to play and we guarded, and we guarded them down the stretch,” CU head coach Tad Boylesaid. “But you have to do that for 40 minutes. There’s  two reasons we lost this game tonight. No. 1 we gave them 13 offensive rebounds, which we knew we couldn’t do. We have to be tougher on the boards. The second thing is you can’t come into this building, especially when it’s loud and sold out like it was tonight, and turn the ball over 19 times. The combination of the offensive rebounds and the turnovers put us in the hole.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs need to figure out Washington zone to have any chance at an upset

… CU at Washington, 8:30 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks … 

From CUBuffs.com … When Colorado and Washington met for the first time this season back in early January in Boulder, the Buffs put forth one of their “bad half, good half” games.

The result was a 77-70 Washington win, a game in which the Buffs gave up 48 points in the first half and just 29 after halftime. CU trailed by as much as 15 points early in the second half before rallying to cut the deficit to one with seven minutes left to go, but that was as close as the Buffs could come.

It was also the game in which CU point guard McKinley Wright IV suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first half. The injury forced him to miss Colorado’s next game, the first and still only game he has missed as a Buff.

Saturday, the two teams will meet again at 8:30 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena, the last regular season road game of the season for the Buffs (16-10 overall, 7-7 Pac-12). Still in the hunt for a top-four Pac-12 finish, the Buffs need a win Saturday against the league-leading Huskies (21-5, 12-1) to salvage a road trip split.

“We need our second-half defense for 40 minutes,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said after Friday’s practice. “It’s hard to score on Washington. The best way to score on them is to get stops so you can get some buckets and looks in transition. Defense against them is going to be critical.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 21st

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle: “Winning and losing matters. Our guys wanted to win, but we weren’t good enough”

From the Daily Camera … No loss feels good. Some, however, inevitably sting a little more deeply than others.

Coach Tad Boyle lamented this dynamic late Wednesday night after his Colorado men’s basketball team dropped a 76-74 decision at Washington State. It wasn’t just the end of a five-game winning streak — the Buffaloes’ longest in conference play in 13 years — that left such a sour taste. It was misfiring down the stretch in a very winnable game, along with a missed opportunity to inch a little closer to the team’s preseason goals on the road, that had the Buffs regretting what could have been as they attempt to shake off their first defeat in three weeks in order to regroup for Saturday’s date against Pac-12-leading Washington.

“It’s amazing the difference between a one-possession game you have in a loss versus a win,” Boyle said. “If we’d have won this (WSU) game I would have been obviously really proud and excited for our guys. But we didn’t. Winning and losing matters. Our guys wanted to win, but we weren’t good enough. Washington State beat us. The credit goes to them.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 20th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buff win streak ends at five with a tough 76-74 loss to Washington State

… Related … “Foul trouble limits already-depleted rotation for CU Buffs in loss at WSU” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado had its chances Wednesday night, but unlike the last five games, the Buffs couldn’t come up with the crucial plays in crunch time.

As a result, CU’s five-game win streak came to an end with a 76-74 loss at Washington State.

The loss dropped the Buffs to 16-10 overall and 7-7 in Pac-12 play while the Cougars improved to 11-15, 4-9.

Tyler Bey had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Colorado for his 12th career double-double and 10th of the season. McKinley Wright had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Evan Battey added 13 points and 7 rebounds and Shane Gatling scored 12.

Robert Franks led WSU with 19 points.

Colorado shot just 37.9 percent from the field, including just 9-for-29 from beyond the arc while the Cougars shot 45.5 percent, including a 10-for-19 night from 3-point range.

Still, the Buffs had an opportunity to claim their fourth conference road win of the year, as they led by one, 74-73, with 1:51 to go.

But the Cougars regained the edge on a tip-in with 1:24 remaining — after three straight misses — and Colorado then missed five shots at the basket in the final 1:07.

“You have to step up and make plays when plays have to be made,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We didn’t do it on offense tonight and we didn’t do it on defense. It’s a one-possession game that goes in the loss column and it’s an opportunity we’ll never get back.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Washington State “a totally different team” with Robert Franks back in the lineup

… Related … “Slowing WSU’s Robert Franks the key to CU basketball continuing winning streak” … from the Daily Camera

… Related … “Colorado looks to extend streak vs Washington State” … from the Spokane Spokesman-Review

From CUBuffs.com … The names are the same, but it will be two very different teams squaring off Wednesday night when Colorado and Washington State meet for an 8 p.m. game at Beasley Coliseum (Pac-12 Network).

The last time they met, Colorado came away with an easy 92-60 win in Boulder on Jan. 10.

For the Buffs, it was a much-needed victory in the midst of a 3-8 stretch that included a 2-6 Pac-12 start. For the Cougars — who played without Robert Franks, the Pac-12’s leading scorer — it was the fifth loss in a six-game losing streak, and part of a 1-9 conference start.

But since then, both teams have rebounded and are playing their best basketball of the season.

The Buffs (16-9 overall, 7-6 Pac-12) are riding a five-game win streak that has moved them from the 10th place in the conference into a tie for fifth, just a half-game out of third place and one game out of second. With five regular season game remaining, it means the Buffs are still very much in contention for a top-four Pac-12 finish and the conference tournament first-round bye that goes with it.

The Cougars (10-15, 3-9), meanwhile, have no such designs on moving into a top-four finish, but they would also no doubt like to establish a little momentum heading into the conference tournament.

Two weeks ago, WSU went to the desert and completed a rare road sweep of Arizona and Arizona State. The Cougars returned home last week and dropped a narrow loss to league-leading Washington, but they will still have plenty of confidence in their corner when the ball goes up Wednesday night.

“We told our players Washington State is a totally different team than who we saw when they were in Boulder in January,”  CU head coach Tad Boyle said earlier this week. “Now Colorado’s a different team than we were in January. We’ve got two teams that are playing good basketball right now.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 19th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs embarking on last road trip of the season

… Next game: at Washington State, Wednesday, 8:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks … 

… Related … “No coincidence: Tyler Bey and CU basketball gets hot at same time” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … With every win the Colorado Buffaloes put the in the bank, the value of the next game also grows significantly.

“You want to put yourself in a position where games matter in February,” head coach Tad Boyle said Tuesday. “Our guys have done that. It’s a testament to them. They’ve put themselves in a position where games matter in February.”

Indeed, the team many folks had written off just a couple of weeks ago after a 2-6 start in Pac-12 play is in a very different position. Thanks to a five-game win streak, Colorado has moved from 10th place to a three-way tie for fifth in the conference standings and is in good position to make a run at a top-four finish. That would give the Buffs a first-round conference tournament bye, something they have yet to accomplish in their first seven years in the league.

Of course, winning four games in a row in the conference tournament isn’t an impossible task. CU proved that in 2012, running the table over four straight days to win the first Pac-12 tournament.

Still, given their druthers, the Buffs (16-9 overall, 7-6 Pac-12) would no doubt rather have an extra day of preparation and rest when they begin play in Las Vegas.

But to get there, they need to follow the same plan that produced their last five wins: improve every day and figure out how to win the next game. That means that of their remaining five conference games — two on the road followed by three at home — the only one on their minds is Wednesday’s 8 p.m. matchup at Washington State.

“We said this three weeks ago: we’re trying to get better every day and we’re trying to win the next game,” Boyle said. “I don’t want our guys to think Washington State is more or less important than Arizona was or Arizona State was. Our players have embraced that kind of next-up mentality. If a guy gets injured, next man up. If you lose a game or you win a game, next one. Next possession … These guys have embraced that.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 18th

… CU in the Arena … 

Wilner: Pac-12 torchbearers have the flu; hurting the Pac-12’s image

From Jon Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News …

Current basketball standings:

Not UCLA or Arizona: 11-1
Not UCLA or Arizona: 8-4
Not UCLA or Arizona: 8-5
Not UCLA or Arizona: 8-5
Not UCLA or Arizona: 7-6 (Colorado)
Not UCLA or Arizona: 7-6
Not UCLA or Arizona: 7-6
Not UCLA or Arizona: 6-6
UCLA: 6-7
Arizona: 5-8
Not UCLA or Arizona: 3-9
Not UCLA or Arizona: 0-13

The Bruins have lost four of five after their second-half no-show at Stanford.

The Wildcats have lost seven in a row after their loss Sunday in Boulder.

The last time neither UCLA or Arizona finished in the top-four of the conference standings, the conference wasn’t even the conference.

It was the Pacific Coast Conference, Idaho was a member, and John Wooden had not yet set foot in Westwood.

It was the 1947-48 season.

As Sean Miller told the Hotline last month:

“Arizona and UCLA have always carried the torch. If you look at every conference, whether it’s men’s basketball or college football, there are always the ones that carry the torch — (schools) that have been great for decades.”

When the torchbearers get the flu, the conference catches pneumonia.

… Read full story here …

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February 17th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs post fifth straight win with 67-60 win over Arizona 

… Related … “CU basketball holds off Arizona for fifth straight win” ... from the Daily Camera

… Related … “Colorado sends Wildcats to first seven-game losing streak since 1982-83 season” … from the Arizona Republic

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado put together its fifth straight strong second half to produce the Buffaloes’ fifth straight win Sunday, a 67-60 win over Arizona at the CU Events Center.

The winning streak is Colorado’s longest in league play since 2006 and longest ever in Pac-12 play. CU improved to 16-9 overall and 7-6 in Pac-12 play while Arizona suffered its seventh straight loss to fall to 14-12 and 5-8.

 Lucas Siewert led Colorado with 15 points and nine rebounds. McKinley Wright IV added 14 points, Shane Gatling scored 11. Tyler Bey just missed his fourth double-double in the last five games, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Ryan Luther led UA with 17 points.

Colorado led by six at the half, 34-28, only to see Arizona open the second period with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 36-36.

But the Buffs then regained control. Wright scored the next seven points of the game, sparking a 15-3 CU run to give the Buffs a 51-39 lead.

Arizona then cut the Buffs’ cushion to seven several different times down the stretch, but the Buffs managed to answer each time. A Wright 3-pointer with 4:09 to go pushed the lead back to 10 and a Siewert trey lifted the Buffs back ahead by 10 again with 2:53 to go.

The Wildcats then cut the CU edge back to seven one more time, 65-58, with 2:30 to go on a Dylan Smith 3-pointer, but Colorado then held the ‘Cats scoreless over the next two minutes to put the game away.

Shane Gatling hit two free throws with 40 seconds remaining to salt away the win before Arizona hit one last bucket in the final seconds.

The Buffs never trailed in the first half, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and building their margin to as much as 11 at several different junctures. Colorado hit nine of its first 10 field goal tries while the Wildcats missed their first six. CU’s last 11-point lead cam with 6:20 remaining, when Lucas Siewert’s 3-point play gave Colorado a 32-21 cushion.

But then came a CU scoring drought that lasted nearly six minutes, and the Wildcats chipped away the lead. UA cut the lead to six before Siewert finally hit a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to end Colorado’s drought. The Wildcats, however, collected a bucket just before the buzzer to send CU into the locker room at intermission with a 34-28 lead.

… Continue reading story here …

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Tad Boyle: “You have to beat Arizona. Arizona’s not going to beat themselves”

… CU v. Arizona, Sunday, 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPNU … 

… Related … “CU basketball’s Arizona battle features teams trending opposite directions” … from the Daily Camera

… Related … “Scouting report: Arizona Wildcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes” … from kokomoperspective.com

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado coach Tad Boyle has made sure his Buffaloes are not being lulled into a false sense of security by their next opponent’s recent struggles.

Yes, the Arizona Wildcats have lost six in a row — their longest losing streak in 25 seasons. These Wildcats (14-11 overall and 5-7 in Pac-12 play) are obviously not the team the Pac-12 has become accustomed to seeing, the program that has won four league titles and three conference tournament championships in the last five years.

But from the Buffs’ perspective, it is still Arizona that will pay a 6 p.m. visit to the CU Events Center on Sunday — and that is enough to earn every ounce of Colorado’s respect.

“I say this every time we play them, and it’s the truth … you have to beat Arizona. Arizona’s not going to beat themselves,” Boyle said earlier this week. “They’re very disciplined, they’re very well prepared. They’re going to know which guys can drive right, which guys can drive left, which guys can shoot, which guys are struggling shooting. They’ll have a game plan and we have to go out and we have to execute our game plan better than they execute theirs. That’s what it comes down to with Arizona. You’re not going to necessarily catch them on an off night. They don’t have a lot of off nights, in terms of preparation and discipline and toughness. You have to make shots. You have to outplay them to beat them.”

The Buffs (15-9, 6-6) enter the game in a rare position — ahead of UA in the conference standings. Colorado also owns a four-game win streak, something the Wildcats haven’t seen since seen since late December-early January, when they put together a six-game win streak that included a 4-0 start in Pac-12 play.

… Continue reading story here …

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Evan Battey update

From CUBuffs.com … Boyle said freshman forward Evan Battey, who missed the second half of Wednesday’s win over Arizona State with back spasms, is improving. Battey practiced Saturday and the Buffs hope to have him available Sunday.

“Hopefully we’ll have him ready to go,” Boyle said. “Anytime you’re dealing with a kid’s health, especially with a lower back you have to think long term, you have to think big picture. But at the end of the day Evan has to make the call. It’s not one of those injuries where even a trainer or doctor — it’s his back. He knows how it feels, he knows what it feels like normally, he knows where it’s at.”

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February 16th

… CU in the Arena … 

Pat Rooney: Tad Boyle’s raise is debatable; his passion is not

From the Daily Camera … Tad Boyle couldn’t contain his emotions.

Colorado basketball fans are well within their rights to debate the merit of the perpetual five-year contract the leader of the CU basketball program works under thanks to athletic director Rick George’s annual invoking of the contract’s automatic one-year extension. The same goes for the latest pay bump that will give $1.8 million and change per year to a coach who more than likely will finish his ninth season at the helm with just one NCAA Tournament win to his credit.

It’s a fascinating and somewhat original debate. How much bank does a coach earn for lifting a middling program to previously unseen heights — in Boyle’s case, an NIT Final Four and four NCAA Tournament berths in his first six seasons — when the luster of that run begins to fade? How much faith can be put into the potential of the near future, even as an injury-riddled rotation filled by youngsters seemingly is turning a corner at the right time of the season?

Yet this part of the equation isn’t up for debate: The sort of coach the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” crowd yearns for, a leader with NCAA tourney success highlighting his resume, won’t be coming to Boulder for $1.8 million per year. That figure that remains on the low end of the Pac-12 Conference pecking order. Moreover, love him or leave him, there is little chance Boyle’s replacement, whenever that day arrives, will have as deep-rooted a passion for the CU program as the Colorado born-and-bred Boyle.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 15th

… CU in the Arena …

Buffs hosting players and coaches from the Ricardo Patton era

From CUBuffs.com … Since the day Tad Boyle took the job as Colorado’s head basketball coach in 2010, one of his goals has been to engage and encourage players and coaches from past eras to stay involved with CU basketball.

Part of that effort has included holding reunions every season for all players from past eras, along with highlighting a specific coach and his players each season.

Thus far, the Buffs have welcomed former CU coaches Bill Blair, Tom Apke, Tom Miller and Joe Harrington.

This year, Boyle and his current staff will honor the Ricardo Patton era at Colorado. Patton and a host of his former players will be at Saturday’s practice, then have lunch with current CU players after the workout before taking part in a Saturday night reunion function at a downtown Boulder hotel. Sunday, they will be guests at the 6 p.m. Colorado-Arizona game at the CU Events Center.

“This is about honoring the past and honoring the players that played for Ricardo and everybody in that era,” Boyle said. “But it’s also for every Colorado basketball player to come back. … He has a lot of time invested in this place. A lot of blood, sweat and tears so to speak. It will be great to have Coach Patton back and all those who played for him.”

Patton, currently an assistant coach at Denver under Rodney Billups, was CU’s head coach for 11 full seasons, compiling a 184-160 record in his tenure. The 184 wins are still second-most in Colorado history, trailing only Sox Walseth’s 261.

Patton led Colorado to two NCAA Tournament appearances and four NIT berths. His 1996-97 team ended a 28-year NCAA Tournament drought at Colorado, and the Buffs then collected a win over Indiana and Bobby Knight in the tournament opener before falling to North Carolina and Dean Smith in the second round.

The Buffs also earned an NCAA berth under Patton in 2003, along with NIT appearances in 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2006 and three 20-win seasons.

… Continue reading story here …

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Arizona coming to Boulder on a six-game losing streak 

… Next game … v. Arizona (Sunday, 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPNU) … 

… Related … “Parker Van Dyke hits 3 after 3, extending UA’s once-unthinkable losing streak” … from the Arizona Daily Star

From ESPN … Parker Van Dyke may not start but he picked up right where he left off.

One game after capping a 23-point second-half comeback with a buzzer-beater at UCLA, Van Dyke made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 23 points and Jayce Johnson also set a career-best with 17 points to help Utah beat Arizona 83-76 on Thursday night.

Sedrick Barefield had 15 points and six assists and Timmy Allen scored 14 for the Utes (14-10 overall, 8-4 Pac-12), who have won three in a row and are in second place in the conference. But the story of this victory was the offense of Van Dyke and Johnson, who both average seven points a game.

Dylan Smith scored a season-high 16 points and Ryan Luther had 14 for the Wildcats (14-11, 5-7), who have lost six in a row for the first time since former coach Lute Olson’s first season at Arizona in 1983-84.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 14th – Happy Valentine’s Day!

… CU in the Arena …

Evan Battey day-to-day after sustaining first half back injury

From the Daily Camera … For the second straight game, redshirt freshman forward Evan Battey provided a huge spark off the bench for the Colorado men’s basketball team.

This time, however, it proved to be an abbreviated appearance. Battey exited Wednesday’s 77-73 home win against Arizona State due to a lower back issue and did not return. Afterward, head coach Tad Boyle said it is a problem Battey has been attempting to work through lately, and his status for Sunday’s home date against Arizona will be re-evaluated following the team’s scheduled day off on Thursday.

“His back has been bothering him,” Boyle said. “It was spasm-ing up. I don’t know if it was a particular play or what, but he was hurting. I promise you if he could’ve come back, he would’ve come back. We’re just going to keep our fingers crossed and hopefully get him treatment and hopefully have him back for Sunday. But we’ll treat him very gingerly. Lower backs are nothing to mess with.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 13th

… CU in the Arena …

Buffs earn fourth straight victory with 77-73 win over Arizona State

… Related … “Dominant second half pushes CU basketball past Arizona State” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado’s second-half toughness made the difference again Wednesday night.

McKinley Wright IV scored 24 points and Tyler Bey had a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double to lead the Buffaloes to their fourth straight win, a 77-73 victory over Arizona State at the CU Events Center.

Colorado improved to 15-9 overall and 6-6 in Pac-12 play while the Sun Devils dropped to 16-8, 7-5. It is the first time since 2006 that the Buffs have won four straight conference games in the regular season, and it is the first time in CU history that Colorado has come from four games under .500 in conference play to get back to .500.

For the fourth straight game, the Buffaloes were the better team after halftime. The game was tied 32-32 at intermission, and with 10:31 to play, the score was still knotted, 51-51, after the Buffs had erased a five-point deficit. That’s when the Buffs took control, putting together a 15-7 run over the next eight minutes. Wright had seven points in the run, including a dagger 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down to give CU a 66-58 lead with 2:41 to go. The Sun Devils never came closer than five again until the final seconds, when a meaningless ASU 3-pointer just before the buzzer put the final points on the board.

The Buffs dominated the second half, particularly over the last 10 minutes. Colorado shot 56 percent from the floor after halftime (14-for-25) while holding ASU to just 38.3 percent shooting (13-for-34). The Buffs — who were outrebounded by the Sun Devils by 14 in their first meeting this year — finished with a six-rebound edge, including a 20-15 count after halftime.

“It’s not me,” head coach Tad Boyle said of his team’s recent second-half efforts. “I wish I could say it was me, or our staff. It’s our players. When your players decide to lock in like they did tonight, and like they have really the last four games, and dig in defensively and rebound the ball and play with the toughness they’ve been playing with — that’s what changes things. Credit goes to our players, not our coaches.”

Wright’s 24 points were a season-high, and he added eight assists and six rebounds. Bey’s double-double was the 11th of his career and ninth this season, and his 17 rebounds were a career high. Shane Gatling was CU’s next high scorer with nine points, including seven in the second half.

“Tyler’s a guy that loves challenges,” Boyle said. “He and McKinley were warriors tonight. Obviously McKinley with the ball late and Tyler rebounding the ball, those two kids are special. They’re really separating themselves in terms of what they can do to help this team win.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs looking for payback against Sun Devils 

… Next up: Arizona State … Wednesday, 8:45 p.m., MT, FS1 … 

… Related … CU v. Arizona State Game Notes … 

… Related … “Rematch gives streaking CU basketball chance to make amends for poor showing at Arizona State” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … While it has been just a little more than a month since Colorado and Arizona State met for the first time this season, in some ways it seems like ages.

“I watched our first game against Arizona State and I didn’t even recognize the Buffs, relative to what I’ve seen the last two weeks,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said earlier this week. “We’re a different team. We’re in a different spot.”

Indeed, the Buffs are a much different team than the one that traveled to Tempe in early January and suffered an 83-61 loss — their largest margin of defeat this season. That game saw the Buffs endure their worst shooting percentage of the year (32.7) while the Sun Devils recorded the best shooting percentage this season by a CU opponent (57.1). Throw in the fact that ASU outrebounded the Buffs by 14 — CU’s biggest deficit of the year on the boards — while outscoring Colorado 50-20 in the paint, and it was overall a night the Buffs would like to forget.

But since then, Colorado (14-9 overall, 5-7 Pac-12) has taken big steps forward, especially over the last two weeks. The Buffs are currently riding a three-game win streak and aim to push it to four Wednesday when they play host to the Sun Devils (16-7, 7-4) in an 8:45 p.m. game at the CU Events Center.

“They manhandled us back in early January,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said after Tuesday’s practice. “Transition defense was not good and they’re a very good team in transition. Second shots were huge, they’re a very good offensive rebounding team. There’s a lot of things we have to do well. But I think the big thing with Arizona State is you have to match their intensity. They play extremely hard. They’re very physical on the glass and we have to match that physicality.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 12th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle not opposed to Vontae Shenault playing for the CU basketball team

From the Daily Camera … It remains unlikely the University of Colorado will see its first football-basketball dual-sport athlete in nearly 30 years. But count Tad Boyle in on at least exploring the possible addition of new CU Buffaloes football La’Vontae Shenault to the basketball roster.

This past week, the younger brother of star receiver Laviska Shenault made his pledge to the Buffs official on national signing day. He also raised eyebrows by saying he has the blessing of new football coach Mel Tucker to explore the option of playing basketball for the Buffs as well.

Boyle has not yet conversed with the younger Shenault or watched his basketball highlights. Yet Boyle had a succinct appraisal of the situation based on what he saw Laviska Shenault achieve on the gridiron this past fall.

“Put it this way — if his little brother can play basketball the way Laviska can play football, we’ll take him,” Boyle said.

… Continue reading story here …

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Improved second-half play a key to CU’s three-game winning streak

… Next up: Arizona State … Wednesday, 8:45 p.m., MT, FS1 … 

From CUBuffs.com … There are myriad reasons behind the Colorado men’s basketball team’s recent surge.

Better shooting, better rebounding, balanced scoring, more consistent defense — all those things have contributed to the Buffs’ recent three-game win streak that included a pair of road victories. Colorado will look to extend that streak this week with a pair of home games at the CU Events Center, beginning with an 8:30 p.m. matchup Wednesday with Arizona State, followed by a 6 p.m. game Sunday against Arizona.

Through the three-game win streak, the Buffs have been up and down in some areas — hot one game from 3-point range, ice-cold the next. But the constants throughout the winning streak have been stellar defense and rebounding, particularly in the second half.

Figure this: in the two games prior to their current win streak (losses to Stanford and Oregon State), Colorado let halftime leads slip away on both occasions. In those games, opponents shot a combined 64 percent from the field (32-for-50) after intermission, while also holding a five-rebound edge combined in the two games.

But in their last three wins, the Buffs have held opponents to 43 percent shooting after halftime (40-for-93). That was enough to overcome a pair of poor shooting games from 3-point range, when the Buffs were just 3-for-20 from beyond the arc against Oregon and just 4-for-20 from long distance against USC.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 11th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle tied for second-lowest paid coach in the Pac-12

From Jon Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News … Right now, most Pac-12 basketball programs aren’t getting much return on their investment: Head coaches paid a lot of money oversee mediocre programs with little hope of reaching the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s a rundown of 2018 salaries, courtesy of the USA Today database. (Public schools only.)

Arizona’s Sean Miller: $4.1 million
Utah’s Larry Krystkowiak: $3.4 million
Oregon’s Dana Altman: $2.7 million
UCLA’s Steve Alford: $2.6 million
ASU’s Bobby Hurley: $2.1 million
OSU’s Wayne Tinkle: $2 million
Washington’s Mike Hopkins: $1.8 million
Colorado’s Tad Boyle: $1.4 million
Washington State’s Ernie Kent: $1.4 million
Cal’s Wyking Jones: $1.1 million

Miller and Krystkowiak are top-10 nationally in compensation.

Miller hasn’t won an NCAA game in two years and is mired in multiple off-the-court messes.

Unless Utah earns an automatic bid, Krystkowiak will miss the NCAAs for the third consecutive year.

Alford and Altman are top-25 nationally in compensation.

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs’ three-game win streak has required contributions from the entire lineup

… Next up: Arizona State … Wednesday, 8:45 p.m., MT, FS1 … 

From CUBuffs.com … The resurgence of the Colorado men’s basketball team over the last 10 days has truly been a team effort.

In their current three-game win streak, the Buffs have been led in scoring by three different players. Sophomore Tyler Bey had a career-high 27 points in CU’s win over Oregon, junior Shane Gatling followed that up with a career-high 28 in the win over UCLA, and sophomore McKinley Wright IV tallied 20 in Saturday’s LA sweep-clinching win over USC.

But it has been more than just the leading scorers who have made the difference in CU’s recent push. The Buffs have gotten contributions from all seven of their regular rotation players in key areas.

Sophomore D’Shawn Schwartz had an outstanding Los Angeles trip, averaging 14 points and four rebounds in the two games. Freshman Evan Battey had 14-point, six-rebound night at USC. Junior Lucas Siewert scored in double figures in two of CU’s latest three wins while averaging more than five rebounds in the stretch, and sophomore Daylen Kountz had an 11-point night against Oregon.

Meanwhile, every Buff has pitched in with some solid defense. Battey tortured USC’s Nick Rakocevic all night long, helping to hold him to eight points — half his season average. Battey also did a solid job on UCLA’s Moses Brown down the stretch in the win at Pauley Pavilion, while Bey was a defensive stalwart in all three games, as were Wright and Schwartz.

Simply, the Buffs have been getting contributions from everyone, and most importantly, in crucial situations.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 9th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs clutch in final minutes, take down USC on the road, 69-65

… Related … “CU Buffs basketball picks up emotional win at USC” … from the Daily Camera

... Related … Late defensive lapses prove costly for USC in 69-65 loss to Colorado” … from the Los Angeles Times

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado delivered in crunch time Saturday night, and as a result, the Buffaloes left Los Angeles with their first Pac-12 road sweep in five years.

McKinley Wright IV scored 20 points, including the go-ahead bucket with 1:36 to go, and D’Shawn Schwartz added a pair of clinching free throws with 14 seconds remaining to lift the Buffs past USC, 69-65, at the Galen Center.

The win, coupled with Wednesday’s victory at UCLA, gave CU its first back-to-back conference road wins since 2013, when the Buffs swept the Oregon schools. It was CU’s third victory in a row and improved the Buffs to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in Pac-12 play. USC dropped to 13-11, 6-5.

Wright gave CU a 65-63 lead with a drive to the hoop with 2:20 to go, then broke a 65-65 tie less than a minute later with another drive. The Buffs then forced back-to-back empty possessions from the Trojans, including a missed a 3-point try with 21 seconds on the clock.

Tyler Bey rebounded the missed trey and was fouled, giving CU the ball out of bounds. Colorado inbounded the ball to Schwartz, who was immediately fouled. Schwartz then hit both free throws with 14 seconds left on the clock to give CU a four-point lead, 69-65, and clinch the win.

Schwartz finished with 13 points, 11 in the second half. Evan Battey had 14 points and six rebounds for Colorado and Lucas Siewert added 12 points and six rebounds.

Benny Boatwright led USC with 24 points.

“We got stops tonight,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “McKinley made plays, D’Shawn made free throws, Evan was a beast — it was just a great team victory. I can’t be more proud of our guys. It was just a toughness win. You win with toughness on the road because you have to.”

The win was especially sweet for the Buffs on USC’s home floor, as it was just a year ago that USC called timeout with just a few seconds remaining and a 12-point lead to set a play for another basket.

That moment stuck with the Buffs for an entire year, and an emotional Boyle pumped his fist and yelled to CU’s supporters after the game.

“This is a big game for us and our university, just like UCLA was a big win,” Boyle said. “There was a little bit extra in my belly. But it’s still just one win in the standings.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 7th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs hope to continue inspired play against Trojans 

… Up next: at USC, Saturday, 8:00 p.m., MT, ESPNU … 

... Related … “CU basketball seeks payback in return visit to USC’s Galen Center” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … It was just a week ago, one day after a disheartening loss to Oregon State, that Colorado coach Tad Boyle received a letter from a fan urging him to apply a little perspective to the Buffs’ plight.

The letter, from 2007 CU grad Dan Cashmore, reminded Boyle of what Colorado basketball was before he took the reins in 2010. Cashmore remembered what being a CU basketball fan meant during his time as a student, and how much the environment and atmosphere around the program has changed since.

… But now, one week after Cashmore’s letter arrived, the outlook for Colorado has changed again. After insisting throughout a difficult 3-8 stretch that his team was capable of making some noise in Pac-12 play, Boyle’s Buffs have turned up the volume. In back-to-back games, they have produced their two best efforts of the year. First came a rout of a talented Oregon team at home last Saturday, then came a stellar road win at UCLA on Wednesday.

It appears Boyle was right. The young Buffs are growing up, just in time to make their stretch run in Pac-12 play an interesting one. While Colorado currently sits in 10th place in the league standings with a 4-6 mark, the second and 10th-place teams in the league are separated by just two losses — meaning anything can happen over the next month.

No doubt, making a run to the top four will be a difficult climb, even with a favorable schedule (Colorado plays five of its last eight at home). Thanks to injuries and other issues, the Buffs are down to nine available scholarship players, and more often than not, are playing a seven-man rotation. In Wednesday’s win at UCLA, CU’s five starters all played at least 30 minutes, and the Buffs used just seven players in the entire second half.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 6th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs post second consecutive win in Pauley Pavilion, take down UCLA Bruins, 84-73

… Related … “Shane Gatling shoots CU Buffs basketball past UCLA” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … For the second year in a row, the Colorado Buffaloes made Pauley Pavilion their home away from home.

Shane Gatling scored a career-high 28 points Wednesday night — including seven 3-pointers — and the Buffs broke open a tight game in the final seven minutes to collect an 84-73 win over UCLA on the Bruins’ home floor.

It was CU’s second straight win at UCLA and third overall against the Bruins. The Buffs improved to 13-9 overall and 4-6 in Pac-12 play with their second straight conference win while the Bruins fell to 12-11, 5-5.

The Buffs entered the game with the Pac-12’s worst 3-point shooting percentage, but finished the night a red-hot 13-for-24 from beyond the arc, including a 7-for-9 night from Gatling. A year ago, Colorado was 11-for-22 from 3-point range in a win at UCLA.

Tyler Bey added his second straight double-double for Colorado, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. McKinley Wright IV added 12 points and eight rebounds and D’Shawn Schwartz added 15 points. Gatling, who had 22 of his points in the second half, also had five assists, four rebounds and three steals for the Buffs. Colorado finished with 22 assists on their 28 baskets.

Moses Brown led UCLA with 17 points.

“We’re growing up,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “It’s taking some time. Saturday (at USC) is not going to be easy, but I told our team, the way we’re playing right now, if we continue to buy into defense and rebounding the ball, we can play with anybody. … Overall, a great win in Pauley Pavilion. Two in a row — what can you say?”.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 5th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs try to take momentum from Oregon game on trip to Los Angeles 

… Next game … At UCLA, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks … 

Related … “L.A. return likely to be emotional for CU basketball’s Evan Battey” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Now that the Colorado Buffaloes have proven they can put together a strong wire-to-wire effort, the next item on their agenda is to do it again.

Indeed, halfway through the Pac-12 schedule, “one game at a time” is more than just a cliche´ for Tad Boyle‘s Buffs as they head to Los Angeles this week for a pair of games. Colorado plays at UCLA on Wednesday (7 p.m. tipoff) before heading across town Saturday for an 8 p.m. game at USC.

“Just do it one more time,”  Boyle said after Monday’s practice. “Get better at practice today, figure out what we have to do and how do we beat UCLA. That’s all that’s on our mind. Before we do that on Wednesday, we have another practice (Tuesday). It’s just staying with the day-to-day improvement, individually and certainly as a team.”

That has been the Buffs’ goal all season — day-to-day improvement.

But now, instead of simply believing they are capable of a complete game, the Buffs have concrete proof after Saturday’s 73-51 win over Oregon in what was undoubtedly their best overall effort of the year.

“We proved we could do it for 40 minutes, now we have to go do it again for 40 minutes,” Boyle said. “Again, it may not be the kind of score that it was the other night, but we have to be ready to compete and execute defensively and offensively for 40 minutes.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 4th

… CU in the Arena … 

Report: Arizona subject of NCAA inquiry related to college basketball corruption case

From Yahoo Sports … As the University of Arizona basketball program slogs through a difficult season on the court, the school appears to soon be facing uncomfortable questions on the future of embattled coach Sean Miller. Sources told Yahoo Sports that Arizona is one of the schools tied to the federal basketball scandal where a formal NCAA inquiry has begun.

While Arizona has the country’s No. 1 recruiting class for next season, there’s a series of looming issues both with the federal probe and the ongoing NCAA investigation into the school that complicate Miller’s future there.

The issues begin with the upcoming trial of Christian Dawkins, the former agency employee who claimed deep ties to the Arizona program. There’s also potential NCAA fallout from the recent felony plea in federal court by former Arizona assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson, which amplifies the question of how the NCAA will handle Miller’s responsibility for the actions in his program.

While there’s nearly a dozen schools expected to face some degree of NCAA scrutiny in the wake of the federal basketball investigation, Miller and Arizona are dealing with a confluence of complications that cast a shroud over Miller’s future there.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 2nd 

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs play their best game of the season in rout of Oregon, 73-51

… Related … “Message received, resurgent Tyler Bey leads CU basketball to rout of Oregon” … from the Daily Camera

… Related … “Bey scores 27 with 10 boards as Colorado beats Oregon 73-51” … from ESPN

From CUBuffs.com … Throughout Colorado’s early struggles in Pac-12 play this year, Colorado coach Tad Boyle has insisted the Buffaloes could still make some noise in conference play.

Led by sophomore Tyler Bey’s ninth career double-double (27 points, 10 rebounds), the Buffs turned up the volume in a big way Saturday night, putting together their most complete game of the season to run away with a 73-51 win over Oregon at the CU Events Center.

The Buffs improved to 12-9 overall and 3-6 in Pac-12 play while also improving to 8-0 all-time against the Ducks in Boulder. Oregon fell to 13-9, 4-5.

The Buffs dominated the Ducks in virtually every regard, especially in the first half. Colorado used a 17-0 run to take a 24-5 lead with 11:02 to play in the first half and Oregon never came closer than 15 again. Colorado led by 23 at the half, 40-17 and pushed the lead to as much as 30, 64-34, in the second half.

Bey was a dominant force from the beginning. After a four-point, four-rebound effort in Thursday’s CU loss to Oregon State in just 17 minutes on the floor, he bounced back with a ferocious effort Saturday. Bey’s seventh double-double of the season included an 18-point first half, when he outscored the Ducks by himself. Bey finished with a 9-for-9 night from the floor while also hitting 9 of his 11 free throw tries in finishing with a career-high 27 points.

Colorado also controlled the boards, finishing with an 45-32 rebound edge, and held Oregon to just 31 percent shooting from the floor (18-for-58). Colorado’s defense was particularly stifling in the first half, holding the Ducks to just 6-for-29 shooting (20.6 percent).

Daylen Kountz added 11 points for Colorado and Lucas Siewert had 10 points and six rebounds. McKinley Wright IV added nine points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 1st

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs desperate for win as Ducks come to town

From CUBuffs.com … Late Thursday night, after his Buffs had absorbed a 76-74 loss to Oregon State on their home floor, Colorado coach Tad Boyle still expressed confidence in his team’s ability to finish strong.

“The beautiful thing about college basketball is a lot of people count people out in certainly January and February,” Boyle said. “People are counting out the Buffaloes and I understand why. But our job is to prove those people wrong and continue to improve every day and try to figure out how to win our next game. If we can get on a roll, which we’re fully capable of doing, we can make some noise in this league coming down the stretch.”

But with just 10 conference games remaining, the 11-9 Buffs (2-6 Pac-12) also know time is running out on their chances to start that hot streak. Their next opportunity comes Saturday, when they play host to Oregon in a 7:30 p.m. game at the CU Events Center. Colorado has never lost to Oregon in Boulder, owning a 7-0 record against the Ducks on CU’s home floor.

The Ducks (13-8, 4-4) bring a two-game win streak to Boulder that includes a 78-72 come-from-behind win over Utah on Thursday. Oregon fell behind 30-16 midway through the first half, but put together a 22-4 run to take a 38-34 halftime lead, and never trailed in the second half.

“Oregon started pressing and Utah turned it over 19 times for 29 points,” Boyle said after watching film of the Utah-Oregon game. “Handle their press. That’s the key to Oregon — and obviously you have to guard them.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Tags: D'Shawn Schwartz, Daylen Kountz, Elijah Parquet, Evan Battey, Lucas Siewert, McKinley Wright, Namon Wright, Shane Gatling, Tad Boyle
This post, about the Colorado Basketball game, from the 2018 Season, is filed under Article.
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